Chris Perez deletes Twitter account after fan backlash

Indians closer Chris Perez has in the past been one of the most active players on the social media monster that is Twitter, but it's now a thing of the past.

After a pair of bad outings that brought out a large amount of fan backlash -- essentially cussing Perez out -- over Twitter, he has deleted his account.

Though Perez doesn't specifically blame the mean-spirited folk who cowardly went after him from their cozy computer/phone/tablet keyboards, the timing is pretty transparent. Plus, Perez felt compelled to release a statement to reporters on why he was quitting Twitter.

Here's the statement, courtesy of the Associated Press:

"The decision to deactivate my Twitter account was a personal choice I made in order to maintain the greater focus on the success of the team this season and our shared goals moving forward. We have an extremely positive and supportive group of players, coaches and staff members in our clubhouse and I want to participate in activities and routines that contribute positively to the culture we're building here.

"Out of respect for my teammates, I want to minimize any potential off-the-field distractions so this is the only time I will comment on this topic. Thank you for your understanding."

Perez has been critical of Indians fans in the past due to low attendance numbers in Cleveland, so it's likely he's built up a few enemies among the fan base.

Perez, 27, is a two-time All-Star. He's converted six of his eight save chances this season with a 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 16 innings.